2018: Stroll in Xúquer
When people ask me about my choice of Valencia, I often respond with lots of flowery descriptions and commentary. It's the lifestyle, the people, the food, the variety of new places to visit. Really, it isn't just one of these things or even all of them. When I am in...
2018: Hello, friends!
Hello, gentle readers, and welcome to a much-deserved post from ValenciaAtLast.com. Yes, I know, it's been a couple of years since I last posted, but there are reasons for such a gap. Of course, work was one of those reasons. While I had high hopes for maintaining my...
One Year… and So Many Changes!
Hello, gentle readers, and greetings from Georgia, USA. Today marks one year of being back in the United States, and I have to say that this past year has been an incredible year of discovery and changes. Some good, some challenging, and all part of the adventure that...
Happy New Year 2016!
To all of my friends around the world, I wish you the very best 2016! May this year be filled with happy memories and new opportunities and adventures! -Christopher
Three Months, Happy Holidays, and What’s Next
Gentle readers, please forgive me for my tardiness to post, as well this all-text post. Just over three months ago, I returned to the United States, and I must say that there are both good and, well, challenging points to address in my repatriation process. I moved...
Big Opportunities Come with Big Changes
Gentle readers, as I write this, I am making big plans in my life to take advantage of an opportunity that I could not pass up. As many of you already know, I work at home for a major educational publishing company, writing grants and developing other resources that...
2015 Valencia: Port Saplaya, where Venice met Spain
What do you do when you want a beach vacation that is near a major city and loaded with charm? Well, if you are Spanish, you might consider Port Saplaya, a charming little area that is perfect for a few days of relaxation. Why only a few days? Well, to be...
2015 Valencia: Week in Alicante
Gentle readers, I took a week to visit the town of Alicante, which is south of Valencia city and a popular vacation spot in Europe. Even though it was August and a lot of businesses were closed, it was still a memorable experience in a beautiful areas. Most of the...
2015 Valencia: Day Trip to Cullera
August in Valencia is a bit of a weird month. For the most part, the typical rhythms of the city are disrupted as huge numbers of people leave for vacation, taking trips both far away and into local pueblos. It's a far cry from the few days that Americans take for...
2015 Valencia: Batalla de Flores
On the last Sunday in July, a very special, very strange celebration occurs in Valencia near the Túria riverbed. Since 1891, this crazy event celebrates the life in Valencia and marks the end of the Fería de Julio, or July Fair. Held on the last Sunday in July, and...
2015 Valencia Day Trip: Ontinyent and El Pou Clar
Independence Day for Americans here in Valencia can be somewhat daunting. I know, I know, I could celebrate the holiday with other Americans, but this year I decided to do something decidedly different... I took a day trip with an activity group to see El Pou Clar....
2015 Valencia: Beach Festival of San Juan
Since Valencia is on the coast of Spain, a number of traditions have emerged to help remind the Valencian community of its oceanic origins. Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of seafarers, is celebrated in late June, and is celebrated on the beach with bonfires,...
2015 Valencia: Gandía and Playa Las Rotas
Filled with summer wanderlust, a couple of friends and I decided to visit Gandía on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It's easy and cheap, since a round-trip ticket on the train will get you there for the cost of one hour each way and about $12.00. We had high hopes for...
2015 Summer Festivals in Valencia: El Perrelló Tomato Gastronomic Fair
There are times when keeping your schedule open is a good thing. The weather here, while growing into the summer season in sunlight, heat, and, well, humidity, really begs for some outdoor time. This is Valencia's advantage: long springs and autumns and relatively...
2015 Summer Festivals in Valencia: The Alternative Festival
Ahhhh, summertime. With all of the rain we have been having here in Valencia, the temperature has been mild and the trees are green. The riverbed, then, becomes a great place to have festivals and celebrations of all sorts. Recently, the "alternative festival" was...
2015 La Virgen de los Desamparados… or the Festival of Our Lady of the Homeless
The Plaza de la Virgen is one of the core places in Valencia, in part because it celebrates the Virgin Mary of the Homeless, and is probably the most celebrated patron saint of the city. The celebration continues for an entire weekend, and is really quite amazing to...
Valencia summer has arrived!
Summer has arrived here with a big bang, bringing lots of sun, time outdoors, festivals, and opportunities to enjoy what Valencia has to offer. After a month of guests, my apartment feels kind of empty, so I have been spending time outdoors when I can. I have also...
Intense Heat and Wind in Valencia: What It’s Like to be in a Clothes Dryer
The weather here has been spectacular, with cool evenings and warm days full of sunshine. Then, suddenly and quite shockingly, the temperature sort of burped. For one day, the weather was blisteringly hot, reaching 108F and staying that warm until later in the evening...
2015 Valencia Wind Festival at the Beach
Every April, Valencia holds an amazing kite festival on the Malvarosa beach. In the past, these days herald the beginning of spring with sunny weather and plenty of breezy opportunities to fly kites and get the family outside. This year, however, Mother Nature had...
Rosas? Roses? Visiting a Beach Town North of Barcelona
On the way home from Carcasonne, our group visited a lovely town, Roses. Wait, is it Rosas? This beach town is in the Girona province of Spain, and just south of the French border. Like Valencia and the Province of Valencia, the residents there share a dual-language...